King’s Day

"Little can prepare you for the orange-tinged madness of King’s Day, or Koningsdag, the national holiday that gives the Dutch an excuse to party hard for over 24 hours. In Amsterdam alone, over a million revelers spill onto streets and canals, ostensibly to celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s birthday on April 27 (if his birthday lands on a Sunday, the holiday is celebrated on April 26). The fun begins the night before on King’s Night (Koningsnacht) when bars and public squares overflow with people. The next morning, the city turns into a giant flea market, or vrijmarkt, which is the only day anyone can sell anything on the street tax-free. As the afternoon winds down, the party ramps up with live music, street vendors, pop-up bars, and dancing in the streets.When: April" - MATADOR_NETWORK